There’s a huge ACC game Wednesday, nationally televised by ESPN, first-place and NCAA tournament implications on the line, two nationally-ranked conference rivals, including No. 1 in the country...and by the way, Duke and North Carolina play as well.

While No. 1 and first-place Syracuse at No. 25 and third-place Pittsburgh (7 p.m., ESPN) involves teams higher up in the ACC standings, nothing stirs the passions of college basketball like the gathering of the Blue Devils and Tar Heels, a 9 p.m. start in Chapel Hill, also on ESPN.

And both come into the game playing well.

UNC (16-7, 6-4) has recovered from an 11-7, 1-3 ACC start to win five straight in league play, all by double digits.

The Tar Heels are playing with what coach Roy Williams said is a much better “sense of urgency.”

Duke (19-5, 8-3) has won seven of its last eight, and the only loss was by two points in overtime at Syracuse.

“They are shooting 42 percent as a team, and we don’t have a player shooting better than 36 percent,” noted Williams.

“They have several guys who can shoot the 3, so you have to stay attached to your man and not play help defense. They are really good at dribble penetration and then pitch it out, and with so many of them capable of shooting the 3, that makes them unusual.”

The Blue Devils have a lot flexibility and weapons in the backcourt, with Quinn Cook, Rasheed Sulaimon and Tyler Thornton joining Dawkins and Hood as perimeter threats.

Even freshman sensation Jabari Parker (29 3-pointers) will venture out from his power forward position to shoot jumpers.